The Madras High Court has directed official authorities to issue a circular to all government departments to plant ten saplings for every tree that is felled, and maintain them for a sufficient period.
The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice M.Y. Eqbal and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, passed the order while disposing of a writ petition by S. Gnaneswaran.
The petitioner had explained the situation arising out of the felling of trees and not replacing them.
Government Pleader J. Raja Kalifulla produced before the court a letter written by the Superintending Engineer to the Chief Engineer on June 15 and correspondence from the Chief Engineer to the Principal Secretary to government dated June 17.
In the letter, the Chief Engineer had requested the government for issuing a circular and implementation of the scheme stating that since it involved all departments a G.O. may be issued by the Public Department after obtaining proposals from the Forest Department in consultation with Agriculture Department.
The Bench directed that the letters produced by the GP be kept on record. It said it was disposing of the petition with a direction to the official authorities. If the authorities failed to comply with the direction, the petitioner was at liberty to approach the court.
